How Soledad O’Brien is Changing the End of her Story

That is the one sentence from this year’s BlogHer conference that will stay with me forever. It was spoken by Soledad O’Brien, anchor of CNN’s Starting Point during the Saturday keynote address with regards to why she started a non-profit organization, the Soledad O’Brien and Brad Raymond Foundation.

The foundation’s mission is to provide young women with a bridge between obstacles and opportunity by giving them the resources to overcome barriers and reach their highest potential. After meeting many young women whose life plans had been halted by disaster, poverty, teen pregnancy and other causes, Soledad O’Brien and her husband, Brad Raymond, decided it was their mission to help these young woman have a better future. Together the couple looked at these young women and chose to change the end of their story.

Like Soledad O’Brien and Brad Raymond, it is up to each of us to decide whether we want to change the story, just like it is up to us to decide whose story to change. Perhaps it is your own story or that of a family member, friend, acquaintance or total stranger.

So many people have asked me, especially in the past few months, why I have chosen to write this blog of mostly posts about human interest, social good and ways to pay it forward. Let’s face it. These are not exactly the posts that get the most Google juice. Don’t you want to be known as an expert? Why not choose just one cause and focus on that?

Once I heard those words I felt clearer about the answer to those questions than ever. Here on this blog I hope to give readers ideas and opportunities for changing the end of a story. I hope this platform can provide stories of inspiration and ways to pay it forward. After all, you never know what will resonate most with someone and lead that person to action.

Many thanks to Soledad O’Brien for speaking the one sentence which reinforced that purpose.

Comments

I love this! Changing your story has many chapter. This I know for sure. This blog is so you. Meet you for even a moment and that should be clear. I’d like to continue to help young girls feel empowered to do whatever they can dream. There is no limit, only obstacles. And those are the chapters.

You definitely use your platform well and move people to act, whether sharing the information you provide, making a donation to a nonprofit, volunteering or changing their outlook. I’m happy that you were “re-inspired” about your blogging!

Changing your story is exactly what BlogHer did for me. From the first time I was syndicated and paid for my words, I became a “writer” in my eyes.

ThAT put me on a path I never imagined for myself: doing a show with Molly Ringwald, being BlogHer VOTY for Humor 2011, Reading for the cast of Listen To Your Mother 2011, writing a column on parenting for our local paper, and shopping my childhood stories out right now.

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